The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-15
A PRINTERS POINT AT A PICNIC.
Schools -. SweetheartS --- Speeches.
Observation-Disclosures Of
Futura BfapNiNeSS.

Future Happiness.
DUE WEST, S. G., June 13, 1887
Editor Press t1ld B0imer:
After reading what will say in this lette
regarding one event that was more than feS
tive in social enjoyment, hospitality ant
gcniaIncss you will no donbt heavc II Ion:
penetrating sigh over the memories, of you
hcyhays, ''pcrically' speaking. Yet I'm per
tcctly cognizant of the fact that you are no
diSlranchised SIS a matrimonial contestan
and don't hesitate to say that you are possess
cd of the ways and means TO make some ont
happy, happier, happicst-listen, gentle III
say II picnic is, suspect, q fertile leld-sup
position?
AS the writer hurried to and fro on last Fri
day night in close pursuit of n way to be con
given at Honea Path the next day, IL water
spout see med to have burstcd open just over
our tranquil hamlet and for half hour II
sounded rs if the rainfall was sufficient tC
dislocate and shatter everything from cher
iShed hope To q verbal contract But ere dc
spending hopes and my wearied form had
driftcd into the land Of sweet sleep the star:
had pinned back the clouds and all promised
brightness for :he morrow. After, sleeping
the sleep Of the anxious. was awakened by
the chimes Of the sunrise, notice Of the Fe
male college bell. and opened the shutters
that shut out the horrors of a stormy night tC
gaze, alas, not upon blazing eastern horizon
but the inevitable overcast hid away tho
beantifulble heavens, and the zephyr had
surrendered the winds unto the uncharitable
~ tossed the green foliage back and forth.
! Yet, spark of encouragement fashed occa
sionally across my bosom and to foil the ar
dent desire of n soldier of the "art preserva
tive IS not easily done, hence, in a short
while young friend and myself were seated
in buggy behind spanking good mule
headed towards that little tow town Eored Io vel
courteous people and pretty ladies, Honea
Path. After n pleasant drive over ten miles
of country lying in Abbeville and Anderson
counties, viewing rich scenery and promising
crops we halted at our destiny. Here q
gloomy foreboding captured us-the clouds
fingered and few, very few visitors were to be
seen, and as the fond anticpations tina: inhab'
spacious liver, were about to drag me over the
precipice Of despair we were fully assured by
several manly young men that IL was colti
day when Honea Path got left" and thus as
sured. your picnic correspondent spent a
spare hour or so in genial conversation with
the business men Of the town, which Is COM
posed solely, with one exception, of young
men; DR.. Hudgens being the only merchant
Of advanced years In the place.
1 found the merchants very hopeful, indeed,
of good crop year. These business men, un-
like the majority in our Piedmont belt, are
not given to grunting ana mournlns-they
need a good crop year, but are not losing flesh
over the recent continued failures, and look
out, as 1t were, upon bright future: -
"There," remarked jovial friend, us your
see this highly respected gentlemen, but one
of a "Wee bit' more interest to me, but the
vacant seat beside him caused peculiar mel,
ancholy to steal over me-but my thoughtful
friend soon received delightful affirmative
for me, and thus put the wheel Of my hope In
motion. As the day leaned nearer towards
high noon Honea Path showed greater and
still greater evidences OF something unusual
Greenville rolled up Col. j. G. Clinkscales, An
derson countyS thoroughly satisfactory
School Commissioner. showed himself and
alighted, and in company with the, commit
tee appointed to meet him proceeded to the
academy where he was soon in his glory
speaking of public schools and proving them
indispensibly great and expressing his high
admiration for the unprecedented success
achieved by Mr.. J. B. Watkins, Principal of
the Honea Path High School, and said many
encouraging things about our public school
system and the good fortune of his county In
good teachers He made beautiful illustra-
tive reference to this progressive age In It's Inn,
provements in agricultural implements; and
after an interesting pointer to the Teachers
Institute and It's benefits the s,,ca ker retired ;
suffice it to say he didn't fail to taffy the la
dies.
Rev. A. c. Stepp followed in an entertaining
speech on schools, education, c'c.; his speech
was full of pleasant hits. and sweet comp!i-
ner was the occupant Of every ones mind. !
mean the word; Mr.. j. b. Watkins dismissed
the audience in pleasant manner; before
doing so, however, he remarked that an
|
ring words were spoken your picnic reporter
had accepted an invitation from charming
and thoughtful young lady and under her
command was paradcd to the home, Inc ever
hospitable home Of DR.. T. Il. Hudgens, and
there enjoyed q sumptuous dinner, and to the
family OF this highly esteemed merchant and
legislator I'm under many obligations for the
hospitality and kindness shown me while in
In the afternoon the ball lovers occnpied
the diamond, but as l am not stout and can't
stand up long-and really didn't care straw
for the base ball-we, highly intelligent
young lady and myself, spent pair of the
departing hours of the memorable day In a
buggy in the grove and enjoyed the unbroken
quietude Of unity, and IT. makes my whole
being vibrate with a desire for sweet revenge
when I think of that cruel hearted young
man who took her away amid my envy and
sadness but "be still sad heart and cease re-
pining" burst into brass band like sound,
and sure enough as 1 looked westward the
sun was literally emerging from behind q
cloud and my hopes wentotf on another light
fantastic waltz to the music of gladness-ior
there was yet an unfinished feature Of the
programme, and a pretty one too. AS twi,
| light gently embraced nature and kissed
away her tears beautiful star.lit heaven
smiled from above Turing many couples to
the spacious lawn that adds so much 10 the
beauty OF this pleasant village. The lawn
was illuminated by bonfires which were scat.
tered at intervals and burnt sufficient light
for promenaders to feel at ease. Indeed, the
|
| handsome men enjoying to word the free
dom and liberty of.a mutually pleasant occa-
sion. Mr.. Watkins cast an eye ever and anon
to the welfare Of all, and to him, his school
and cultured assistants and the good, Selfsac.
riflcing people of HOnea Path and vicinity
ms a follower of Faust and lover Of piencs
do hereby most unanimously extend vote
of thanks for pleasant day ana night picnic
ing, to the Honea Path High School, citizens
of town and vicinity-ahem, mostly "vicini-
ty," please.
10 Mr.. Watkins, whose energy is incalcula-
bic as q teacher and whose success has placed
marching to the front to sooner or later occu-
py more worthy positions, extend heart
| full Of good wishes
AS Sunday mornings sun rose upon Honea
Path brightly, the idea struck us to visit the
family church yard (Broadmouth) and the
Sunday school in the church of which my
sainted grandfather was pastor for SO years.
found an interesting Sunday school under
the supervision Of MIR. Robert L.atimer, an
earnest Christian worker. The singing was
delightful and Miss Leila Burts seemed per-
fectly at ease ut the organ. This settlement is
characterized for It's pious, upright, Christian
Lastly, but not leastiy, few of the depart
| ing hours Of this pleasant trip were spent at
the society Of his charming daughters, Misses
Macie and Ida. AS my companion, Mr.. $. S.
Brown and myself rolled away from among
these good people it was with sadness that we
looked hack and thought how quickly the
The writer enjoyed q delightful nights rest
and q toothsomc breakfast at the Honea Path
Hotel. Mr.. j. j. Shirley, he proprietor. as
shows up among the first-tor cleanliness 1t Is
paramount, venture. Their three sons, Will
liam. Robert and DR.. Fletcher stand among
| the first business men OF the town.
| Ny dear sir, score your picnic reporter an
other victory. and dear reader If you live
northeast of Due West you are reading after